give instant gratification

When sifting through registries, I always want to get friends something that they can use immediately. To me, there is nothing as fulfilling as instant gratification! Living in New York City, this always presents some obvious challenges due to space constraints. One way to achieve this is to find an item that you can “upgrade” for immediate (and functional) use. For example, purchase a beautiful bread board like this one from Simon Pearce. It’s an ideal companion for entertaining. To go from in a drawer or on display to on the table in minutes, give a monthly membership to an artisanal bread or cheese club. We received a membership to Zingerman’s – the bread is easily freezable and when we cook it, our apartment fills with the aroma of freshly baked bread. It's amazing. If you have a cheese lover in mind, send the gift of Cowgirl Creamery – a San Francisco gem. Insert wine and voila - instant entertaining and enjoyment!

via pinterest

locket love

Now that our wedding has past, I wanted to share one of my favorite finds throughout the process – jewelry from the incredibly talented Kelley Solomon. She is the mastermind behind local Connecticut jewelry shop Aquinnah. She makes pieces that are absolutely perfect for daytime casual chic, date night and formal affairs.

For my sister and Maid of Honor, I was immediately sold on getting her Aquinnah’s locket bracelet. I gathered digital photos that represented her family and printed them very, very tiny to include in the many lockets dangling from her wrist. It’s the perfect piece to spruce up any outfit and the best part is that it’s filled with so many happy memories.

In addition to her one-of-a-kind locket items, she has an incredible selection of bracelets, earrings and necklaces made from various jewels and stones. She’s a dream to work with and can customize pretty much anything. To see her latest and greatest creations - visit her site today. I'm swooning over the new bright colored necklaces for Fall!

vintage lockets via aquinnah jewelry

limited edition vintage, lemon milk glass bib necklace via aquinnah jewelry